Ribbon forming machine



g i3 W J. D. HUHZENG RIBBON FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 194.0

INVENTOR ATTORNEY '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. WM J. D. HUIZENG V 11;?

RIBBON FORMING MACHINE ATTORNEY RIBBON FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Aug, 5, WM. J. D. HUIZENG RIBBON FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 my M ATTORNEY Aug. 1941- J. D. HUIZENG 2,251,282

RIBBON FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 NIH INVENTOR V ATTORNEY a N E a u H n RIBBON FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 po oooo 147 oqooo MI W INVENTOR JOHNflHU/ZENG ATTORNEY 1941. J. D. HUIZENG 2,251,282

RIBBON FORMING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 2o, 194o '1 Sheets-Sheet. 'r

lNVENT OR JO/1N auu/ze/va ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RIBBON FORMING MACHINE John D. Huizeng, Ridgewood, N. J., assignor to Century Ribbon Mills Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application December 20, 1940, Serial No. 370,928

12 @laims.

This invention relates generally to'a ribbon cutting machine, and more particularly to a machine for forming, cutting or severing a plurality of substantially continuous strips'or ribbonsof relatively narrow width from a fabric web of substantial as cotton, wool or silk are cut by ordinary means such as by a knife or shearing -means, the cut edges are susceptible to fraying or "rav'elling. This fraying or ravelling of the cut edges'of the ribbons or strips can be eliminated by hemming the edges of the strips after being cut, but such a method has the decided disadvantage of adding to the thickness of the strips at the edges' which is very undesirable and also increasing the cost of the finished ribbons to an exorbitant amount.

' stantial width and simultaneously seal the edges of the ribbons by the employment of a severing means such as a hot knife moved relative to the fabric or 'by perforating the web with heated needles, The heated severing elements, in addition to cutting the fibers, melts or partially melts the ends of the cut fibers in the fabric of organic derivatives of cellulose and/r those fibers of such material lying parallel or near the cut edge so that when the edge of the cut strip subsequently Obviously, where ordinary-woven or knitted fabrics made of fibers of materials such ing the fabric in an even manner and leaves the edge thereof somewhat jagged or ragged,

In view of the above, it is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an improved machine for forming ribbons of narrow widths from a full-width fabric containing at least in part organic derivatives of cellulose and simultaneously sealing or fusing the edges of the cut ribbons or strips together to prevent fraying or ravelling thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the cutting action on the fabric is effected without subjecting the fabric to substantially any distorting or abnormal tension thereat.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- I vide a machine of the above type during operacools, the melted or partially melted fibers fuse or are welded together with the umnelted fibers to form a sealed edge. In the heated knife method of cuttingthe fabric, the fabric is drawn against the knives and obviously has a tendency to pucker or wrinkle before the knives, which may result, among other things, in causing the edges of ,the strips to be uneven. The heated needle method has the disadvantage of not severtion of which the fabric may readily be moved into and out of operative relation with the cutting means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the cutting is effected by a rolling action and one whereinthere is no drag on the fabric at the cutting point.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for varying the speed at, which the fabric moves relative to the cutting means in order that the latter may operate at the maximum efficiency.

These and other objects of the invention will appear and be more apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

In accordance with the invention the fabric from which the ribbons or strips are to be made is adapted to be held in contact with a set of circular heated cutter discs by individual pressure rollers. The cutter discs in the preferred embodiment of the invention are power driven at 4 such'a speed that the peripheries thereof travel. at the same speed as the fabric and in the same direction and, accordingly, the cutting action of the fabric is effected by rolling action which neither tends to advance nor retard the fabric as'would be the case if there was relative movement between the peripheries of the cutters and the fabric. The fabric is arranged to be brought into cutting relation with the discs by the pressure rollers so that on withdrawal of the pressure roller from operative relation with the cutters, the fabric is also withdrawn from engagement with the cutters. Such an arrangement facilitates the initial threading of the fabric through the machine and also lessens or entirely eliminates the danger of scorching or otherwise damaging the fabric by the heated cutters should the movement of the fabric through the machine be stopped for any reason- A more thorough and complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the latter of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying the invention and shows the manner in which the same operates upon a fabric to form a plurality of ribbons;

Fig. 2 is a left side elevational view of the machine showing the various controls and .driving mechanisms;

Fig, 3 is a right side elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially through the transverse center section of the machine, as indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizonal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing the driving mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, showing the cutter discs, pressure rollers and the heating arrangement for the cutter discs;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line I'I of Fig. 1, showing the path of the fabric and the relation thereof to the operated and non-operated positions of the pressure rollers;

compression spring (not shown) tending to force the movable disc toward the stationary disc. When the hand wheel.26 is turned so as to bring the motor M nearer the shaft 23, the Reeves belt 2| is at the largest arc of contact with the discs,

running over their whole diameter, and maximum speed of the jack shaft 23 is attained. By turning the hand wheel 26 so as to move the motor M away from the shaft 23, the belt 2| runs over a smaller arc of contact between the discs forming the pulley I9, the sliding disc moving out laterally to accommodate the belt and the speed of the jack shaft 23 is reduced until minimum speed is reached with the motor at its greatest distance from the shaft 23. Although the above method of changing the speed of operation of the machine is employed, various other methods such as a variable speed motor could be used to change the speed of the machine.

Freely mounted on the shaft 23 is a double pulley 21 which may be coupled to the shaft 23 by Fig. 8 is a face view of a section of ribbon as cut by the machine; and

Fig. 9 is a face view of a section of ribbon as cut by the electric needle method.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the frame structure of the machine includes four vertical post members I I, one at each corner, which may be of channel construction with upper and lower channel members or side rails- I2 and I3 respectively extending between the posts II on each side of the machine. The frame structure also includes horizontal members such as I4 extending between the sides and serves to connect the two sides of the machine together. The above described elements or members II, I2, I3 and I4 comprise the main structural elements of the machine from which the various operating elements are supported. It will be obvious that the structural members of the machine. could be readily made from castings instead of being built up of individual members.

The power for running the machine is derived from an electric motor M of suitable size, secured to a base I6 which is supported on transverse members I! attached to the sections I3 of the frame structure. The shaft I8 of the motor M has secured thereto for rotation therewith a pulley I9 over which passes a belt 2| connecting the pulley I9 with a second pulley 22. The pulley 22 is fixed for rotation therewith to a shaft 23 journaled in bearings such as 24 which are supported from the motor mounting base I6.

The motor M in the preferred embodiment of the invention is of the constant speed type and the operating speed of the machine is varied by with the motor base I6 is effective to move the motor toward and away from the shaft 23. The

pulley I9 consists of an assembly of two facing cone-shaped discs, one stationary and the other movable axially of the motor shaft l9, and a.

means of a clutch indicated in general by reference numeral 28. The clutch 28 may be of any one of a well known type and is controlled by a link 29. The link 29 is connected to an arm 3I, Fig. 2, extending downwardly from adjacent the center of a horizontal longitudinally extending shaft 32. The shaft 32 is journaled adjacent its ends in brackets 33 secured to the posts II and has at each end thereof upwardly extending hand levers 34. The hand levers 34 are located at eacn end of the machine and by the proper operation thereof eflect engagement and disengagement of the clutch 28. A pair of belts 36, Figs. 2 to 5, connects the pulley 21 on the shaft 23 to a pulley 31 fixed for rotation therewith to a jack shaft 38. The shaft 38 is journaled in bearings 39 which are attached to structural members 4| and 42, Figs. 2, 3 and 4,'attached to the main frame structure. The jack shaft 38 has secured to one end thereof for rotation therewith a double pulley 43 which is connected by belts 44, best shown in Fig. 3, to a pulley 46. The pulley 46 is secured to the end of a shaft 41 which is-suitably journaled and supported in arms such as 48 extending upwardly from the longitudinal transverse members l2.

The shaft 41 controls the advancement of the fabric in a manner hereinafter pointed out while a third pulley 49 on the jack shaft 38 through a belt 5| drives a pulley 52. The pulley 52 is loosely mounted on a shaft 53 supported in a bearing bracket 54, Fig, 1, and tends to rotate the shaft 53 therewith through a friction clutch indicated in general by reference numeral 56 comprising a friction element 51, a compression spring 58 and a collar 59. The inner end of the shaft 53 has a recessed'section 6| adapted to receive and drive the square-ended takeup reel shaft 62. The opposite end of the takeup reel shaft 62 is supported in the recessed end of a member 63 attached to a short shaft 64 supported in a bracket 66. The bracket 66 is secured to the longitudinal side rail I2 and has a clamping screw 6'! which is adapted to clamp the shaft 64 in position. By unscrewing the clamping screw 61, the short shaft 64 may be moved into and out of engagement with the end of the shaft 62 of the takeup spool which facilitates removal and installation of the takeup spools in the machine.

The shaft 41, hereinbefore mentioned, which controls the advancement of the fabric through the machine has an enlarged section 41', best machine. Fixed to the shaft 41 for rotation therewith is a spur gear-6B which meshes with an idler gear 69 pivotally supported on a stud II adjacent the upper end of an arm I2 extending from one of the side rails I2. The idler gear t3 also meshes with a second idler gear I3 pivotally mounted on a stud M extending horizontally from the lower half of a bearlngblock I6. There is a bearing block It secured to the upper side of each of the side rails It, and each supports a roller bearing ll, Fig. 6. Journaled in the roller bearingsl'l is a so-called cutter shaft It which extends between the two sides of the machine and rotatable therewith is a driving gear It, Figs. 1 and 4, meshing with the above mentioned idler gear it. Thus, through the above described gear train comprising gears 68, 69, I3 and It, the cutter shaft It is rotated from the shaft M.

Also attached to the shaft M to rotate therewith is a second gear ti, Figs. 1 and 2, adapted to mesh with a gear 32 located thereabove. The gear 22 is fixed to a shaft 33 which is journaled adjacent its ends in blocks such as M. The arms such as M in which the shaft M is journaled have slots 86 extending downwardly from the upper ends thereof to a point adjacent the shaft II. is journaled have grooves therein and are adapted, by means of the grooves, to slide in the slots M. A second set of blocks Bl located above the blocks M are adapted to slide in the slots M and journaled therein is a shaft 88. The shaft 8% has a gear 89 thereon which meshes with the gear 82 on the shaft 83 and is driven therefrom. The shaft 83 has for substantially the entire distance between the arms w a covering of resilient material M which may be of rubber or similar material. The section of the shaft 88 extending between the arms 48 is of greater diameter than the sections in the blocks 81 and is hereinafter referred to by reference numeral 83. The manner in whichthe fabric is threaded and adapted to engage the sections MI and 88' of the shafts t! and 88, respectively, together with the resilient material ill will be pointed out hereinafter.

Secured to the upper ends of the arms at by screws such as 98 are strips 93, one associated with each of the arms as. The left hand ends of the strips as, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, have extending therefrom studs 94 upon which are pivoted the left hand ends of levers such as 96. Pivotally supported on the right hand ends of the strips 93 and extending from one side of the machine to the other is a rod 911 which has cams fit fixed thereon located beneath the right hand ends of the levers 96. The rod 91 also has fixed thereto a hand lever 92 which, by movement thereof, rotates therod 91 to bring the hump sections of the cams v98 into and out of operative association with the levers 96. Each of the levers 96 has pivotally attached adjacent the centers thereof depending links IUI, the lower ends of which are pivotally secured to the blocks M. Accordingly, by proper manipulation of the hand lever 99 the levers 95 can be raised which, through the links IIlI, elevates the blocks 84 carrying the shaft 83. The separation of the resil ient element M on the shaft 83 from the section M of the shaft 41 facilitates the threading or the initial passage of the fabric between the said shafts.

The hereinbefore mentioned cutter shaft 18 journaled on the roller bearing ll is hollow, as best shown in the enlarged sectional view there- The blocks M in which the shaft 23 arranged to contact the outer peripheries of the slip rings are brushes Ill]. The brushes It? have potentials applied thereto through the terminals ms and serve to convey the potential from the terminals through the slip rings tilt to the heating elements I02. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the heating elements I02 are di-' vided in order to reduce the current required to heat the cutter shaft and, accordingly, each end of the cutter shaft has slip rings Hit and associated brushes IllI, each end of the cutter shaft being arranged as shown in Fig. 6.

Spaced along the cutter shaft It are a series of so-called cutter'discs I09, each of which has flanges III formed integrally therewith. Extending through the flanges III are set screws such as II2 which serve to clamp the cutter discs I09 in the desired locations along the cutter shaft It, it being obvious from such an arrangement that the locations of the cutter discs along the shaft It are readily changeable. The manner in which the fabric to be cut is brought into cutting association with the cutter discs mt will be pointed out in the following paragraphs.

Located adjacent theupper sides of the left hand ends of the side rails I2 are brackets M3 and lit, Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The bracket M3 has .a flanged section IIISthrough which extends a short shaft III, the inner end of which is recessed and adapted to receive one of the ends of the shaft H8 of the supply spool or reel. A clamping screw H9 in the flanged section of the bracket M3 clamps the shaft III in position to prevent the shaft from moving longitudinally thereof. By unloosening the clamping screw lit the shaft II'I may be moved outwardly to permit the removal of an empty supply spool and the installation of a new roll of fabric. The

. bracket member IIt at the opposite end of the supply spool shaft III! pivotally supports a shaft I2I which has on the inner end thereof a recessed hub I22 adapted to receive the squared end I23 of the supply spool shaft I It. Accordingly, as the fabric is unwound from the shaft M8 the shaft IRI rotates. Fixed on the shaft IZI for rotation therewith is a pulley I24l which cooperates with a braking element I26, such as a leather strap, to create a drag on the shaft ItI and prevent excess unwinding of the fabric from the supply spool shaft IIIi. One end of the leather strap I26 is anchored to a stud I21 extending from the bracket IId, while attached to the other end of the strap is a weight carrying element I28. By varying the weight on the element I28, the amount of drag on a supply reel shaft IIB may be varied and, accordingly, the pull required to unwind fabric from the shaft M8 can be varied to insure that the fabric is at the proper tautness as it unwinds from the an outer race I32 separated from the inner race by balls or rollers such as I33. The inner races 3 of the rollers I29 are secured byscrews such as I34 to the upper end of arms I36, an arm I36 being on each side of the rollers I29. The lower ends of the arms I36 are secured to-theright hand ends of levers I31 and extend upwardly therefrom. The left hand end of the levers I31, as shown in Fig. 7,-are secured by bolts I38 tos the right hand ends of second levers I39. At the junction points of the levers I31 and 138 a section thereof is removed to form a circular opening so that the levers may be pivotally mounted on a rod I4I. Collars such as I42 secured to the rod I by set screws I43 space the levers I 31 and I 39-predeterminedly along the rod I while at the same time permitting pivotal movement of the levers. The collars I42 are so adjusted on the rod 'I4I that the rollers I29 attached thereto are in alignment with the cutter discs I09 on the cutter shaft 18. Secured to the free left hand ends of the levers I39 by means of pins I44 are individual coiled springs I46. The lower ends of the springs I46 are anchored in holes such as I41 of an anchor bar I48 extending from one side of the machine to the other.

Secured to the under sides "of the side rails I2 and depending therefrom are plates such as I49 which have formed therein vertical slots I'5I. The ends of the anchor bar I48 extend through the slots II so that the anchor bar is guided in vertical movement in a manner hereinafter pointed out. The extreme ends of the anchor bar I48 are substantially smaller than the center and extend through elongated slots such as I52 in the free ends, as shown in Fig. 2, of arms I53. The arms I53 are secured to a rod I54 pivotally mounted in the lower ends of projections I56 extending from the under sides of the side rails I2. Also attached to one end of the shaft I54, as shown in Fig. 2, and extending to the right therefrom is an operating lever I51, The right hand end of the operating lever I51 has a handle I58 extending therefrom to facilitate the operation of the lever as pointed out hereinafter.

A spring member I59 which may be a leaf spring is secured to the operating lever I51 and has at the free end thereof a pin I6I extending through a hole in the lever I51. The spring member I59 normally tends to keep the pin IBI extending through the hole in the lever I51,so that the pin extends an appreciable amount beyond the inner side of the lever I51. By withdrawing thepin I6I and moving the handle I58 of operating lever I51 from a position such as that shown by the full out ine thereof in Fig. 2 to a position such as that s wn byithe dotted outline, and thereupon releasing the pin I6I, the pin is effective to engage the under side of a projection I62 to hold the lever I51 in its down position. A

I I51 may be locked in this position. The arms I53 move up and down on movement of the operating lever I51 and by means of the slots I52 engaging the smaller ends of the anchor bar I48 move the latter up and down in the slots I5I.

The length ofthe springs 5 are such that with the operating lever I51 in its down position as'shown by the dashed outline thereof and the.

anchor bar moved toits upper position, substanthe springs permit the levers I31 and I39 to pivot to a position such as that shown in the dashed outline thereof in Fig. 7. With the levers I31 and I39 in such positions, the rollers I29 are removed from operative engagement with associated cutter discs I09 which facilitates threading of the fabric between the rollers and the cutter discs. -By moving the operating lever I51, Fig. 2, to its upper position, the anchor bar I48 is moved in a downward direction to enable the springs I46 to pivot the levers I31 and I 39 a suflicient amount to bring the rollers I29 into engagement with the discs I 09. The movement of the anchor bar I48 is suflicient to stretch the springs I46 an appreciable amount after the rollers I29 engage the cutter discs I09 so that the rollers are resiliently held in engagement with the discs. Thus, by the proper manipulation of the operating lever I 51, the rollers I29 are moved into and out of operative engagement with the cutter discs I09 and with the fabric passing between the rollers and the cutter discs and moving with the rollers, it also is moved into and out of engagement with the cutter discs.

As pointed out in more detail in following paragraphs, the fabric is so guidedthat when contacting the cutter discs I 09 it is bowed a slight amount by the rollers I29 and hence on withdrawal of the rollers from engagement with the cutter discs I09, the fabric moves therewith for at least a part of the movement of the rollers. The amount of bowing in the fabric by the rollers I29 is slight and accordingly the tension in the fabric has substantially no eifect in tending to withdraw the rollers from engagement with the cutter discs I09 in comparison to the force exerted by the springs I46 in holding the rollers in engagement with the cutter discs when the lever I51 is in its raised operating position. The cutter discs I09 are power driven at such a rate that the peripheral speed thereof is substantially the same as the rate of advancement of the fabric and in the same direction. Thus when the rollers I29 bring the fabric into engagementwith the cutter, discs I09, there is for all practical purposes no tendency of the cutter discs and rollers to increase or retard the rate of movement of the fabric. Accordingly, the cutting of the fabric, which is a rolling cutting action, does not have any tendency to wrinkle or distort the fabric, even the small force required to rotate the substantially frictionless rollers being derived entirely or almost entirely from engagement thereof with the rotating cutter discs. 1

By the employment of individual springs suchas I46 to hoideach roller I29 in engagement with, an associated cutter discs I09, suiilcien': pressure is assured between each cutter disc and its associated roller to perform the cutting action. Such an arrangement is much more satisfactory than if the rollers I29 were all on a common pivo tially all tension is removed from the springs and rod or shaft as proper engagement between each cutter disc and its associated roller if on a shaft common to each of the others would be very difficult to establish and practically impossible to maintain for any length of time.

In the operation of the'machine the roll of fabric which is to be cut is placed in the brackets I I3 and H4 with the shaft N8 of the supply spool supported from the shafts Ill and I'M, Fig. l, as pointed out hereinbefore. A spool or roll of fabric is indicated by reference numeral I63, in Figs. 1 to 4, with the fabric I64 arranged to unwind from the upper-surface of the roll I63. As the fabric I64 leaves the roll I83, as best shown borhood of 350 F., and the fabric advanced at a in Fig. 4, it. passes underneath and back over a rod I66 and thence over a second rod I61. The rod I66 is supported in arms such as I66 extending upwardly from the side rails I2 while the rod I6'I is supported by links I66 adjustably secured to the rod I66. The angle at which the links I 66 are set relative to the arms I66 may be varied so that the path of the fabric I66 may be varied within predetermined limits. The fabric in leaving the rod I 66 next passes underneath a rod I'II' supported in arms I12. Thepurpose of the rods I66, I67 and I'll is to control the movement of the fabric so that it feeds evenlyand uniformly. Any one or all of the rods may have bends therein so as to tend to smooth any wrinkles out of the fabric prior to the time it encounters the cutting discs I66.

The fabric I66 in leaving the rod I'II next passes between the rollers I26 and the cutter discs I66 and thence between the enlarged section 6'I' of the shaft II and the resilient material 6I on the shaft 66. The shaft 66 may be elevated as hereinbefore described to facilitate the threading of the fabric between it and the shaft 66. The fabric in leaving the section 62' of the shaft 6'I is passed between the shaft section 66' and the resilient material 6I, substantially halfway around the shaft section 66' and then to the takeup reel I26. The shaft of the takeup reel 62 is frictionally driven through the frictional clutch 66 and winds the fabric up as it advances through the machine.

In the preferred embodiment of the machine the diameters of the shaft sections 66', 66' and the resilient member iii are all equal, and as they are all power driven at the same speed, the advancement of the fabric is uniform. The peripheral speed of the cutter discs I66 relative to the speed of advancement of the fabric is such that the cutter discs do not tend to advance the fabric or retard the same. Hence there is no tendency to pucker the fabric at the cutter discs I66 and the cutting action is a rolling action.

After the fabric has been properly threaded through the machine, which may be accomplished by a "leader as is the usual practice in such types of machines, the hand lever 66 is operated to begin the advancement of the fabric and soon after the operating lever I6! is operated to move the rollers I26 and the fabric I66 located thereabove into contact with the heated cutter discs I66. On the engagement of the fabric I66 with the heated cutter discs I66 by the pressure exerted on the underside of the fabric by the roller I26, the heated rollers melt or partially melt the liquiflable material such as the organic derivatives of cellulose in the fabric that come into engagement with the heated cutter so that the fabric is severed thereat. The cut strips of the fabric in leaving the cutter discs I66, with the edges thereof somewhat plastic, fuse or weld together so as to form strips, the edges of which will not fray or ravel. In fabrics composed of material not entirely made up of organic derivatives of cellulose, the cutting of the fibers is effected by the cutter discs I69 while the melted'cellulose fibers fuse with these other fibers to form a sealed edge.

It will be apparent that for operation of the machine wherein the fabric moves at a relatively high rate, the cutter discs have to be raised to a comparatively high temperature in order that the cellulose fibers be properly melted. The discs may be at a temperature considerably above the scorching temperature of the fabric, in the neighrate of approximately fifteen yards per minute. It'is also apparent that with fabrics of different weights and with the cutter discs at a given temperature, the advancement of the fabric past the cutters for best operation of-the machine should be variable. The change in speed of the fabric is accomplished by proper manipulation of the hand wheel 26 associated with the motor M in the manner pointed out in the preceding paragraphs.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a heat indicating unit I16 which may include a dial I I6 is arranged to contact the cutter shaft I6, Fig. 6, so that the temperature of the cutter discs may be determined. The proper temperature of the cutters for best operation is determined from experience and depends upon, among other vari-- ables, the weight of the cloth and the rate of advancement thereof. The heat indicating unit II6 may be of th'e type that when a given tem-' perature of the cutter shaft is reached, the circuit to the heating elements I62 is interrupted and when the temperature of the cutter shaft drops to a given temperature, the circuit to the heating elements is restored. Such arrangements are well known in the art and may be of the type employed in the common flatiron.

The edges of the cutter discs I66 may be rela- 4 tively sharp so that the severing of the fabric may be accomplished in part by rolling cutting action of the cutter discs on the rollers I26 as would be the case when fibers composed of other than organic derivatives of cellulose are included in the fabric. The cutter discs I66 have very little surface in contact with the rollers I26 and hence the transfer of heat to the rollers I26 from the cutter discs is very slight and the rollers have little chilling eifectupon the cutter discs. Hence the rollers I26 are maintained at a low temperature and have little or no tendency to heat the fabric.

lBy spacing the cutter discs I66 at various points along the cutter shaft I6 and by making similar adjustments of the spacings of the rollers I26 along the rod MI, ribbons of various widths can readily be formed from a web. Such an arrangement has a decided advantage over prior art machines wherein considerable difficulty was encountered when it was desired to change the width of the ribbons being formed. When a ribbon is cut by means of the cutter discs I66 operating in conjunction with rollers I26, it will be noted, as shown in Fig. 8, that the edges of the ribbon are even and uniform whereas in Fig. 6,

with fabric in contact with the heated cutter discs I66, scorching and other damage to the fabric is likely to result. Accordingly, by operating the lever I5I, the fabric I64 may be withdrawn from engagement with the heated cutter discs. Also, it may be advantageous to move the fabric from out of engagement with the cutter discs I 69 just before the end of the fabric encounters the cutter discs so that the ends of the several ribbons are all together, and the handling of the takeup reel I13 with the several rolls of ribbon thereon is less troublesome. r

It will be obvious, of course, that various modifications of the invention other than those described and shown in the drawings maybe made without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that-only such limitations be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for severing sheet or web material composed at least in part of thermoplastics, a plurality of rotatable circular cutting elements normally out of cutting relation with said material, means for heating said cutting elements, means for advancing the material to be severed relative to the axis of rotation of said cutting elements, means for rotating said cutting elements with the peripheral speeds thereof in fixed relation to the rate of advancement of said material, a set of individual resilient members, a control means movable from a normal to an operated position and including said individual resilient members for moving said material into engagement with said heated cutting elements to be severed thereat, and means operative by said material advancing means on the movement of said control means from an operating to a normal position to withdraw said edge engagement with said cutting discs, and

I or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at-least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of heated circular knife-edged cutting elements, means for moving said material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the romaterial from engagement with said cutting elements.

or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric material containingyarns, threads or filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose, a set of heated circular knife-edged cutting discs, means for rotating said cutting discs, a set of individually operable pressure rollers one for each of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for operating said pressure rollers to hold said material in engagement with said cutting discs, means for advancing said material relative to said pressure rollers and said cutting discs, and means including said cutting discs and pressure rollers for severing said material as the same is moved relative to said cutting discs and pressure rollers by said advancing means. i

3. In a device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric material containing yarns, threads or filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose, a set of heated circular knife-edged cutting discs, means for rotating said cutting discs, a set of individually operable pressure rollers one for each of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for operating said pressure rollers to hold said material in engagement with said cutting discs, means for advancing said material relative to said pressure rollers and said cutting discs, means including said cutting discs and pressure rollers for severing said material as the same is moved relative to said cutting discs and pressure rollers by said advancing means, and means for advancing said material at such a rate relative to the peripheral speed of said cutting discs that said cutting discs and pressure rollers have substantially no effect on the advancement of said material.

4. In a device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of heated circular knife-edged cutting elements, means for moving said material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotative axis of said cutting elements, resilient means, a set of pressure rollers one individual to each of said cutting discs operated by said resillent means for pressing said material into knifetative axis of said'cutting elements, a set of pressure rollers one individual to each of said cutting discs for pressing said material into knife-edge engagement with said cutting discs, means independent of said material for driving said cutting discs and pressure rollers, means including said heated cutting discs and said pressure" rollers for severing said material by a rolling severing action as the same is moved relative thereto by said material moving means and means for advancing said material at such a rate relative to the direction and peripheral speed of said cutting discs that said rotating cutting discs have substantially no effect on the advancement of said material.

or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose,

a plurality of heated knife-edged severing elements, means for moving saidmaterial relative to said severing elements and means operative during the advancement of said material by said last mentioned means to bring the same into only knife edge engagement with said severing elements to be severed thereby.

7. In a device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of heated rotatable circular knife-edged severing discs, means for moving said material relative to said severing discs, individ ture above the scorching temperature of s'aid.

thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose in said material, resiliently operated means for bringing said material into only knife edge engagement with said cutting discs and advancing the same therepast at such a rate as to prevent scorching of said materialby said heated cutting discs, and means including said heated cutting discs upon engagement with said material for severing the same by cutting action of the yarns, threads or filaments in said material of other than thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose if present and by melting and cutting action of 'said yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose in said material.

9. In a device for forming a plurality ofstrips 6. In a device for forming a plurality of strips I discs, means includingsaid members for bringor ribbons from web or sheet material contain ing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality ofv heated knife-edged cutting discs, said discs being maintained at a temperature above thescorching temperature of said thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose in said material, an independently pivotable member associated with each of said cutting ing said material into'only knife edge engagement with said cutting discs and advancing the same therepast at such a rate as to prevent scorching of said material by said heated cutting discs,'and means including said heated cutting discs upon engagement with said material for severing the same by cutting action of the yarns, threads or filaments inrsaid-material of other than thermoplastics or organic derivatives-{oi cellulose if present and by melting. and cutting action of said yarns, threads or' filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose in said material.

10. In a device for severing a web of substantial width composed at leastin part of thermoplastic material into a plurality of ribbons or strips of narrow width, a set of circular rotatable knife-edlged cutting discs adjustably arranged along a common axis, means for heating said cutting discs, individual pressure rollers one associated with each of said cutting discs carried on individual arms pivotally and adjustably mounted -on a common axis substantially parallel to the axes of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for biasing said arms to hold said pressure rollers in engagement with associated cutting discs, means for advancing the web to be severed relative to said pressure rollers and cutting discs and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axes thereof, means comprising said pressure rollers for holding the web in knife edge engagement with said cutting discs whereby said discs perform a cutting action on said web and liquify' the thermoplasticmaterial adjacent the individual edges of the severed strips, and means for rotating said discs at such a speed relative to the rate of advancement of said web that the engagement of said web with said discs is a rolling engagement.

11. In a 'device for severing a web of substantial edged cutting discs adiustably arranged along, a

discs, individual pressure rollers one associated with each of said cutting discs carried on individual arms pivotally and adjustably mounted on a common axis substantially parallel to the axes of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for biasing said arms to hold said pres- :sure rollers in engagement with assoc ated cuttingdiscs, means for advancing the web to be severed relative to said pressure rollers and cutting discs and. in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axes thereof, means comprising said pressure rollers for holding the web in knife edge engagement with said cutting discs whereby said discs perform a cutting action on said web and liquify the thermoplastic materialadjacent the individual edges of the severed strips, means for rotating said discs at such a speedrelative to the rate of advancement of said I discs, individual pressure rollers one associated with each of said cutting discs carried on individual arms pivotally and adjustably mounted on a common axis substantially parallel to the axes of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for biasing said arms to hold said pressure rollers in engagement with associated cutting discs, means for advancing the web to be severed relative to said pressure rollers and cutwidth composed at least in part oithermoplastic common axis, means for heating said cutting ting discs and ina direction substantially perpendicular to the axes thereof, means comprising said pressure rollers for holding the web in knife edge engagement with said cutting discs whereby said discs perform a cutting action on. said web and liquiiy the thermoplastic material adjacent the individual edges oi the severed strips, means for rotating said discs at such a speed relative to the rate of advancement of said web that the engagement of said web with said discs is a rolling engagement, and means for pivoting the arms carrying said pressure rollers to move the same and said web out of severing engagement with said cutting discs irrespective of the operation of said web advancingmeans.

. J OI- IN D. 'HUIZENG. 

